Obama warns Assad against the use of chemical arms

Syrian rebels have accused the regime of President Bashar al-Assad of moving chemical weapons to airports, after a threat by Damascus to use these weapons in case of "external aggression".

Syrian rebels have accused the regime of President Bashar al-Assad of moving chemical weapons to airports, after a threat by Damascus to use these weapons in case of "external aggression". "We know perfectly well where are these weapons and their positioning," said the Fre Syrian Army (FSA) in a statement published Tuesday.

"We can reveal that Assad has transferred some of these weapons and equipment of chemical mixture components to airports on the border," the statement said without specifying what border.

"Reportedly, the regime has begun several months ago to move its stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction (...) in order to put pressure on the region and the international community" who call constantly to stop the killing," said the rebels.

The Syrian regime admitted Monday for the first time its possession of chemical weapons and threatened to use them in case of Western military intervention.

On his part, U.S. President Barack Obama warned the regime that it would make a "tragic mistake" and should be held accountable if it used chemical weapons. "We want that Assad and his entourage will know: the world looks at you, and you will be held accountable before the international community and the United States if you make the tragic mistake of using chemical weapons," he said. Meanwhile, the Pentagon said the Syrians "should not even think for one second to use it ".